Xie Shi’an sat on his horse, gripping the reins tightly.

He had studied books since childhood—only books. No one had taught him things like horseback riding and archery, nor had he gone to learn them.

After it was confirmed he would come hunting, he had specifically gone to the market to select a good horse and asked his father to hire a teacher for him to specifically teach mounted archery.

But the time had been too short. In just over ten days, he had only learned to ride a horse. Archery was too difficult and required more time to master the technique.

He had long anticipated that this group would make things difficult for him.

Since it was expected, naturally he wouldn’t be flustered. He released the reins and dismounted.

“Young Master Xie can just follow behind us and pick up our prey! Ha ha ha!”

The Sixth Prince laughed loudly and struck Xie Shi’an’s horse with a whip. The horse bolted in fright, and the others burst into laughter.

The group rode off, and Xie Shi’an pressed his lips together before following on foot.

“Mother, that’s your eldest son, right?” Chu Hongyu crouched in the flower bushes and said, “He’s being bullied. Why don’t you help him?”

Yun Chu smiled.

Xie Shi’an was not like other twelve-year-old boys. This person knew too clearly what he wanted, and to achieve his goals, he would use any means necessary.

Right now it was the Sixth Prince humiliating him, but once he had established a firm foothold, the Sixth Prince would be the one tripped up badly by him.

However, Xie Shi’an probably wouldn’t have that chance.

Yun Chu and Chu Hongyu picked many flowers and wove two flower crowns before riding back.

The hunting party also returned. The one who won first place was undoubtedly Prince Pingxi. He had hunted over ten prey, including a live rabbit.

The Emperor was greatly pleased and awarded the prize to Prince Pingxi on the spot.

The other princes all offered their congratulations.

The scene was friendly and harmonious.

Night slowly descended, bonfires were lit, and everyone ate dinner by the firelight.

Yun Chu and Lin Shi prepared to enter Imperial Consort Yun’s tent together when Xie Ping walked over, her face full of smiles. “Grandmother, Mother, I would also like to pay respects to Imperial Consort Yun.”

Lin Shi’s expression turned cold.

Chu’er’s separation from Xie Jingyu was already a certainty. It was just that Chu’er said she wanted to find a good opportunity, so they hadn’t taken action yet.

These illegitimate children of the Xie family would have no connection to Chu’er in the future. There was no need to indulge them anymore.

“You are now Princess An’jing, one of Imperial Consort De’s people. Coming to pay respects to Imperial Consort Yun now is inappropriate.” Lin Shi said coolly, “If outsiders saw, they would think Imperial Consort De and Imperial Consort Yun had boarded the same boat. Wouldn’t that cause the Empress to become suspicious for no reason?”

Xie Ping’s expression stiffened. “Is… is that so? Then I was inconsiderate.”

Imperial Consort De didn’t take her seriously at all, and now she had to avoid association with Imperial Consort Yun. She felt her path forward was utterly bleak.

Lin Shi brought Yun Chu directly into Imperial Consort Yun’s tent.

Imperial Consort Yun was a daughter of a military family. Back then, she had practiced martial arts alongside Yun Chu’s father Yun Silin under the old general. Horseback riding and archery were no problem for her. However, since the Empress enjoyed hunting, Imperial Consort Yun had set aside this hobby. Even after coming to Yan Mountain, she hadn’t followed the Emperor to gallop at the hunting grounds.

Before Lin Shi and Yun Chu could curtsy, Imperial Consort Yun quickly supported them both and pulled them to sit down. “There are only the three of us in the tent. No need for formalities.”

She paused and said, “Eldest Brother wrote me a letter saying that Chu’er had a bad dream, dreaming that our Yun family was executed in its entirety?”

Lin Shi nodded. “Many things in Chu’er’s dream have come true in reality.”

Originally she hadn’t known about the dream, because the Yun family men believed these things didn’t need to be known by women.

It was when Chu’er’s father suddenly mentioned the separation from the Xie family that she pressed him repeatedly and finally learned that Chu’er had dreamed such a dream…

“Eldest Brother said that in Chu’er’s dream, Eighth Brother died…” Imperial Consort Yun’s heart trembled. “Chu’er, when you originally told me to agree to let Eighth Brother go to his fiefdom early, was it because of this dream?”

Yun Chu nodded, then shook her head. “I originally thought that as long as we escaped the whirlpool of the succession struggle, the Yun family might have a chance of survival. But after chatting with Grandfather, Father, and Eldest Brother, I discovered that the Yun family has reached this position, so it will never be possible to stay out of it. I just want to ask one question: Aunt, have you ever thought about letting the Eighth Prince sit on that throne?”

Imperial Consort Yun was so frightened that her pupils contracted sharply, and she quickly looked toward the tent entrance.

“Qiutong is outside. It’s fine.” Yun Chu said, “If Aunt has this idea, then the Yun family is willing to take this gamble.”

Imperial Consort Yun’s face showed a bitter smile. “The Yun family does have the capability to say such things, but… Eighth Brother’s temperament is not suited for that position. Even if he sat on it, he couldn’t sit steadily. What would be the point?”

Lin Shi understood the Eighth Prince very well. Too pure, too kind.

Imperial family descendants started having schemes from age five or six, yet the Eighth Prince at ten years old was still as innocent as could be.

She said, “Then listen to Chu’er. Apply early for the Eighth Prince to be enfeoffed as a prince and given a fiefdom, and leave this capital full of trouble early.”

Imperial Consort Yun’s lashes trembled, and she nodded in agreement.

Eighth Brother was now ten years old. He had to be at least twelve before he could be enfeoffed as a prince. She still had at least two years… She needed to plan carefully.

Coming out of Imperial Consort Yun’s tent, Yun Chu and Lin Shi each returned to their own camp tents.

They weren’t imperial family members, so their tents were on the other side.

Yun Chu had just entered her tent and was about to wash up when Qiutong lifted the curtain and walked in. “Madam, Prince Pingxi requests you come out to discuss a matter.”

It was already near the end of the hour of the dog. Most people were tired and had already gone to rest, so it was very quiet near the camp tents.

Yun Chu didn’t know why Prince Pingxi was looking for her so late.

But if there was some important matter to discuss, this was indeed the best time—no one would run into them.

She changed into a set of dark-colored clothes and left the camp tent. Chengxu, the attendant by Chu Yi’s side, was waiting at the tent entrance. Seeing her, he respectfully said, “Madam Xie, this way please.”

He walked ahead with his head lowered, constantly grumbling inwardly.

Their prince had always been an upright gentleman. Since he had been serving by the prince’s side, he had never seen the prince arrange to meet a woman alone.

Even if there were some tremendously important matter to discuss, it shouldn’t be at such a late hour, shouldn’t be in such a remote place… If he didn’t believe in the prince’s character, he might think the prince was going to commit some impropriety.

Yun Chu followed Chengxu to a lakeside in the mountains.

The grass and trees here were lush, growing as high as the knees. The lake surface reflected the moonlight and sparse stars. A torch was planted beside it, making crackling burning sounds.

Chengxu withdrew with his head lowered, and Qiutong stood guard not far away.

Only Yun Chu and Chu Yi remained.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Chu Yi turned around. “No need for formalities.”

“Last time, General Yun entrusted me to find you a weapon. I searched and searched but couldn’t find a weapon suitable for a woman, so I had someone make one.” He held out the item in his hand. “Take a look and see if you like it.”

“Thank you for the trouble, Your Highness.”

Yun Chu truly hadn’t expected that he was here to deliver a weapon to her.

She took the item. It was an exquisite short sword, about as long as a woman’s forearm, able to be concealed in a sleeve.

Drawing the sword, the sharp blade emerged like from a sheath. The blade reflected the silver moonlight, displaying a cold gleam.

She made a few gestures. This short sword was very handy. She pulled out a strand of hair, wielded the sword, and the strand broke effortlessly.

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Yun Chu truly loved such a handy weapon and couldn’t help making a few more gestures.

“Miss Yun, this short sword has another hidden mechanism.”

“What mechanism?”

Yun Chu was only focused on examining the weapon and didn’t notice at all that he had changed how he addressed her.